Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Red Lanterns #1
DC Comics
Milligan, Benes & Hunter
The first issue of Red Lanterns is not a reboot nor a re-launch but a straight-up launch. However, since it falls under the umbrella of the "new 52" it needs to be graded as the others are graded. It needs to be accessible as well as entertaining and this book manages to do those things but it misses something important in the end: a reason to come back for more. This issue is a good read but Milligan doesn't establish what this title is going to be about long term. A good but not great issue by any means.
The issue opens in a terrific fashion as a band of thugs are travelling through space looking for stuff to tear up. They come across a certain naughty cat and mayhem ensues. These opening five pages or so are a brilliant introduction to two of the Red Lanterns. I thought this was the perfect way to show the characters off in an action sequence with little set-up.
The next few pages sort of acts as a "this is your life" narrative about Atrocitus. It's really a paint-by-the-numbers origin stuff but it is told in an interesting way. Although, it's not perfect. At one point Atrocitus refers to himself as a man which is a reach. While Atrocitus walks the reader through his history he also tries to understand the purpose and future of the Red Lanterns.
This is important because, as the reader, I don't know the purpose of the Red Lanterns. It's not that I don't know how they came into existence but when they aren't fighting the other colored corps then what is their purpose? More importantly, what is the reason I should keep reading this title? This issue didn't answer it at all and didn't even provide an interesting cliffhanger which makes it really difficult to pick up the next issue.
Milligan does introduce some Earth characters that will have some ties to the Red Lanterns in future issues and while these are interesting plots they don't give me an understanding of what to expect from reading this title.
Benes provides some excellent art. I realize he is known for his female characters (and he gets to draw one) but he certainly draws monsters with authority as this issue proves. As is the case with most of the lantern titles the coloring is a true highlight for the overall theme of the book. Overall, the visuals are near perfect.
Red Lanterns has some good elements in it. You certainly won't be disappointed by picking this up but the book has the feel of a completest title for those picking up the other lantern books. I need to see a stronger identity for the book in order to add it to my pull list. However, there is something to be said for a visually fun and interesting story which this provides.
3 out of 5 Geek Goggles
